A lack luster sale of Microsoft's Surface tablets has forced the technology company to reduce its tablet orders to almost half from its Asian manufacturing partner.
According to Taiwanese tech-website DigiTimes, Microsoft's OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturers) partners Asustek Computers, Dell, and Samsung are facing weak sales of their Windows based tablets and PCs. The popular Surface tablet was launched on Oct 26.
Microsoft, known as the maker of ubiquitous Windows series of OS and Application software, had forayed into the tablet market for the first time with the release of its Surface tablet.
However, the excitement at the Surface tablet launch seems to have drastically reduced within a month of its release.
According to the latest NPD (National Purchase Diary) PC sales report, the consumer Windows PC and tablet market (excluding Surface tablet sales) didn't get the boost it needed from the launch of Windows 8 in the US.
"After just four weeks on the market, it's still early to place blame on Windows 8 for the ongoing weakness in the PC market," said Stephen Baker, vice president of industry analysis at NPD.
He further said, "We still have the whole holiday selling season ahead of us, but clearly Windows 8 did not prove to be the impetus for a sales turnaround some had hoped for."
Microsoft is betting big on its Windows 8 Pro based Surface tablet to salvage the low sale numbers of its Windows based tablets.
General Manager of Microsoft Surface, Panos Panay in his official blog has posted that the Windows 8 Pro based Surface tablet would be available January 2013 onwards.
The tablet would be available in two configurations - 64GB and 128GB. The 64GB model will be priced $899 onwards, while the 128GB model will start from $999.
According to DigiTimes sources, Microsoft is contemplating to launch the Windows 8 Pro based Surface tablet before the end of December.
It further stated that Microsoft might reduce prices of Windows 8 Pro based Surface tablet to boost the sales.
